THE POWDER HORN
Monthly Newsletter
October 2023
COMMAND TEAM UPDATE
The first weeks of the Fall season has seen a high operational tempo for members of the Regiment.
No sooner had the unit concluded the first exercise of the training year, before the sub-units dove into preparations for Exercise MAROON SWORD 2. Officers and NCOs alike were challenged by the nature of the objective, which was trench-clearing. Many senior personnel had not conducted such operations in over a decade, but contemporary experiences in Eastern Europe have shown the necessity to be proficient in close-quarter combat in a fortified area. Over the course of a wet and frigid weekend in Petawawa, members of 60th Company – supported by Normandy Company – assaulted trenches and strongpoints, gaining valuable experience.
This month also saw the Command Team and members of the Band attend a memorial luncheon for the late Col Paul Hughes, CD. It was a well-attended and poignant event, where past and present members paid their respects and shared stories among his family and close friends.
The unit bid farewell to several more Riflemen, bound for theatres in the Middle East as part of Operation IMPACT. At the time of this writing, eleven members are now serving abroad. A support system for deployed personnel and their families is being stood-up, as the pace and volume of those volunteering for expeditionary operations is forecast to continue increasing over the next few months.
Finally, we were privileged to end the month of October on an extremely positive note. Two members of the unit, Cpl Balint and Rfn Abbas, successfully completed their Basic Parachutist qualification in Trenton, while MCpl Divito demonstrated his excellence by becoming certified as the latest Jumpmaster within The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada.
AIRBORNE!
In Pace Paratus
Chris Boileau
Lieutenant-Colonel
Commanding Officer
Justin Thorn
Chief Warrant Officer
Regimental Sergeant Major
Appointment of RSM: CWO Jeff Johnston, CD
Congratulations to CWO Jeff Johnston, who was appointed Regimental Sergeant-Major of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (RHLI) on October 24th. Members of the Regiment, including current RSM Justin Thorn, former RSM Mark Shannon, QOR Association members, and Honorary Colonel MGen (Ret'd) David Fraser attended the ceremony at the John Weir Foote Armoury in Hamilton. Prior to his appointment as RSM of the RHLI, CWO Johnston served as the RSM of The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada in a career spanning over three decades.
REMEMBRANCE DAY PARADE
Sunday, November 5th
The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada will be conducting their Annual Remembrance Day Parade at St Paul’s, Bloor Street (227 Bloor St E) on Sunday, November 5th, 2023 at 10:30 a.m.
Members of the public are invited to watch along the parade route as the regiment departs from Moss Park Armoury, heading north on Church St from Shuter St to Bloor St, and then east on Bloor St. A Commemorative Ceremony will then be conducted in front of the Regimental Cross of Sacrifice at St Paul’s Bloor St. During the ceremony, blank ammunition may be discharged as a salute to the regiment’s Fallen. Following the ceremony, the regiment will return to Moss Park Armoury via Jarvis St.
QOR Day at Casa Loma
Saturday, November 4th
A great family day event which showcases the long and dedicated military heritage of the QOR and the Regiment of today!
Soldiers from the Regiment in various uniforms that our members wear
Displays with unit equipment
Re-enactors in uniforms with equipment representing various periods
Remembrance Day crafts for children
Vintage Signals Team exhibits
Temporary QOR Badge tattoo
Performances from the Regimental Band
The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada Regimental Museum program is included in your Casa Loma admission fee. You can also find directions and information on parking on the Casa Loma website.
Free Admission for serving soldiers, veterans, former members, and cadets in uniform and their guests.
QOR Association: Remembrance Day Parade
Good Day QOR Association Members,
I have been communicating with the RSM regarding the QOR Remembrance Day Parade on Sunday, November 5th.
As per other years, the QOR Association will form up by 10:20 am on Hayden Street (on Church, first street south of Bloor).
Once the Battalion has gone by we will form up behind the Bn and march along Bloor Street and once in position we will form a single file and march behind the Cross of Sacrifice. We will then fall under the command of the CO
Dress for the Parade: QOR Regimental Blazer/Medals & Headdress.
CWO (Ret'd) Brian Budden, CD
President & Health & Welfare Chairman
QORA (Toronto Branch)
QOR of C Hockey Team
Each year, The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada Hockey Team plays in a variety of games against teams from other regiments, ranging from exhibition games to tournaments. There are two major tournaments that the team participates in: The Ranger Cup in Toronto and the Sergeant Rick Foldeak Memorial Hockey Tournament in Brockville. There is a push to play more hockey in the Regiment as we grow in strength, and the QOR Hockey Team is an excellent way to build camaraderie, teamwork, and physical fitness.
The QOR Hockey Team is also seeking sponsors and donors to cover the cost of jerseys, ice time, and equipment. If you would like to support the Hockey Team, please contact us at info@1860club.ca.
QOR DAY AT CASA LOMA
QOR Regular Force Service Survey
The QOR Museum does not hold service records for those that served in the Cold War era, Regular Force Battalions and Depot; but does hold many other records and photographs from that period. We would like to collect as much information about those that served which we'll include in our Collections Management Database.
This database includes all the objects, photographs and archival records in our museum and allows us to "tag" these items to specific people. For example, if we have a group photograph with the names listed below, we tag the record with the names of those people. The People section of our database then allows you to look up a person to see all the items connected to them, and other basic information we might have on them - such as when and where they served. There are currently over 4,700 records in our People section. You can check out this page to see how this works.
NOTE: RIFLEMEN If we already have a profile on our website for you here, it is not necessary to complete this form unless you have additional information to add or correct.
This information will be publicly accessible with few exceptions. The information you provide is optional, that said, we'd very much appreciate if you could provide us with as much info as you are comfortable with.
By completing this survey, you give permission to The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada Regimental Museum and Archive to record and make available your responses in our Collection Management System including the Public Access module.
If you have any questions regarding this request, you can email me at museum@qormuseum.org
Thank you in advance for helping us with this project!
Click HERE to complete the survey which should only take a few minutes.
Major (Ret'd) John M. Stephens, CD
QOR Museum Director
You can find more information – as well as a Volunteer application form – on our museum website. Please visit our YouTube and Flickr page for the latest content.
If you have potential items for our Museum and Archive collection, please read this page and complete the online form, or contact us at museum@qormuseum.org.
QoR ASSOCIATION UPDATE
Warrior’s Day Parade
At this years’ Warrior’s Day Parade, The Queens Own Rifles of Canada Association Marching Unit won the Canon Scott Trophy (3rd Place) for Marching Formation of 15 or less persons.
Below: Presentation by Mark Stephens to Brian Budden & Padre John Howie
The Association has made a donation to Operation Raise a Flag with Sunnybrook Hospital. The hospital has a goal of planting 30,000 flags (1 per donation) in honour of the veterans who call Sunnybrook home.
Finally, in support of Exercise Maroon Sword II (22-24 Oct 2023), the Association provided a catered meal to the troops to conclude the exercise.
In Pace Paratus
CWO (Ret'd) Brian Budden, CD
President & Health & Welfare Chairman
QORA (Toronto Branch)
QOR of C Kit Shop
If you are interested in purchasing QOR of C merchandise, you may do so via our online Kit Shop. We now have the ability to issue invoices and accept payment online. We have several new items in stock, including merchandise from the Airborne Reunion.
Please visit the QOR Kit Shop here.
Watch and Shoot (Upcoming Events)
November 4, 2023
QOR Day at Casa Loma
November 5, 2023
Church Parade (St. Paul's Bloor Street)
December 6, 2023
Rifleman Awards Dinner
December 10, 2023
Officers’ Mess Luncheon
For more events, please consult the calendar of events.
Trust Fund and Fundraising Update
Since the launch of the 1860 Club, our members have donated over $300,000 to support The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada Trust Fund and various Regimental initiatives. We would like to express our sincere gratitude for your generosity and support. The full list of Founders can be viewed here.
For more information on supporting the Trust Fund, please click here. For any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Online Links
The QOR of C Regimental Association
More information about The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada Association Branches can be found at:
Toronto Branch
https://www.facebook.com/qortorontoassociation
East Coast Branch
https://www.qor-east.com
Calgary Branch
https://www.qorcalgary.com
Vancouver Island Branch
https://www.qorvi.com
The Rifleman Magazine (Annual Journal of the QOR of C)
https://fliphtml5.com/insrc/ryzm
The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada Regimental Museum
https://qormuseum.org/
The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada Website
https://www.queensownrifles.com/
Kit Shop
https://sites.google.com/view/qorkitshop/
Submissions
To submit comments or content to the The Rifles Report or The Powder Horn, please contact Brian Whittaker, 1860 Club Communications Director at editor@1860club.ca